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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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Around the circle outside the "Winchester" it reads Winchester trademarks licensed from Olin Corp US Repeating Arms Company.
Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Pretty darned sure what the OP has is the first reintroduction of the Featherweight by Winchester, which had been out of production since 1964.
IIRC it came out about 1980,and was chambered for 7x57,257 Roberts,270,and maybe other cartridges as well.....but I remember those three because I had one of each.
At least that's what I recall. Was not too long after that when USRAC took over. Those early FW's had recoil pads designating "Winchester"; later ones marked USRAC. f Bob: FWIW, it was also first offered in the '06. (Big surprise :))
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2005
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Did they make post xtr pushfeed featherweights? I have owned a classic featherweight from the early 90s and it was not pushfeed. I should have noted that the serial number listed above is preceded by a G The XTR moniker was dropped in 1989. The XTR featherweight made under the WRA banner are supposedly the more desirable ones because they only made them for couple of yrs.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
Pretty darned sure what the OP has is the first reintroduction of the Featherweight by Winchester, which had been out of production since 1964.
IIRC it came out about 1980,and was chambered for 7x57,257 Roberts,270,and maybe other cartridges as well.....but I remember those three because I had one of each.
At least that's what I recall. Was not too long after that when USRAC took over. Those early FW's had recoil pads designating "Winchester"; later ones marked USRAC. f Bob: FWIW, it was also first offered in the '06. (Big surprise :)) southetexas: Yes think you are right. But looks like my timing is off and this is a USRAC rifle and not the first FW(?)
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I recently acquired one in 257Bob. The SN is 1519992, no open sights on barrel, XTR stamped on barrel, push feed. So from info above--- Mfd in 1980/1981 by WRA. It is in excellent shape, but someone cut the butt down a little and put a Pachmeyer pad on it. Just starting to shoot it.
Question Did Mfr put a little clear off yellow bedding in the lug well, or was that done by someone after market????
Tim
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein
At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Yes that was winchesters way of bedding it's basically hot glue where is bsa at?
Last edited by 79S; 03/23/15.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
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"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein
At Khe Sanh a sign read "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never knew".
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,348
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Did they make post xtr pushfeed featherweights? I have owned a classic featherweight from the early 90s and it was not pushfeed. I should have noted that the serial number listed above is preceded by a G Yes. They made push feed Featherweights through 1994, along with Classics. 1995-97 they only offered the Varmint and Ranger in push feed, then added the Black Shadow in 1998. Any of these Model 70's made before 2003 are fine rifles. I prefer Classic's, but do own two push feeds from that era. My Model 70's will always say "Made in New Haven CT. USA
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I saw a "model 70 Lightweight" at Gander Mountain once. Is that a version of the Featherweight?
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge. I should have noted that the receiver was not drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. Should have been a giveaway that it was a later pushfeed.
Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2004
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Pretty darned sure what the OP has is the first reintroduction of the Featherweight by Winchester, which had been out of production since 1964.
IIRC it came out about 1980,and was chambered for 7x57,257 Roberts,270,and maybe other cartridges as well.....but I remember those three because I had one of each.
At least that's what I recall. Was not too long after that when USRAC took over. Those early FW's had recoil pads designating "Winchester"; later ones marked USRAC. Now I haffta go check mine!
Camp is where you make it.
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 423
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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MM,I believe that the m70 pushfeed lwt.had a walnut stock with a different checkering pattern than the fwt. along with a 20 inch barrel.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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MM,I believe that the m70 pushfeed lwt.had a walnut stock with a different checkering pattern than the fwt. along with a 20 inch barrel. OK. Thanks.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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If I recall my conversation with the historical department at Winchester, those with the cursive font style pre-dated the XTR. I've had a few over the years and to the low information buyer, they are a XTR Fwt.. As to specific date and number of units, a person would have to call them to see what their records reveal.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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If I recall my conversation with the historical department at Winchester, those with the cursive font style pre-dated the XTR. I've had a few over the years and to the low information buyer, they are a XTR Fwt.. As to specific date and number of units, a person would have to call them to see what their records reveal. The featherweight's were re-introduced in late 1979 with them showing up in catalogs in 1979 they were all XTR Featherweight's. My classic stainless featherweight made around 1994 had featherweight in cursive on the barrel. Also if you call Winchester now inquiring about when a rifle was made etc they wont tell you. Once the move to SC took place there are couple of stories on what happened to all the paperwork concerning SN from the NH plant the one you hear about the most is Winchester turned it over to the ATF to other stories they were destroyed etc.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Well, another iconic American company gets "parted out and watered down". What's next, Louisville Sluggers sold to a Finnish conglomerate? Oops, just happened.
Last edited by bigwhoop; 03/24/15.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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In 1989 USRACo went bankrupt and FN came in and bought them if it wasn't for that back in 1989, the Winchester name would of been gone 26yrs ago.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Well mine says XTR Featherweight on it. Anyway, it's my favorite hunting rifle I have right now. It will go to my son some day!
Camp is where you make it.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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According to Wikipedia the Olin corporation has owned Winchester since 1931. In 1980 they quit building the guns and began subcontracting the firearms production out. First to USRAC and now to FN/Browning. So apparently the Winchester brand name has been in no trouble.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Not quite accurate they sold the plant to the employees and from that USRACo was founded they leased the winchester name from Olin corporation. Alot of folks consider the last real winchesters were made in 1980.
Last edited by 79S; 03/24/15.
Then STFU. The rest of your statement is superflous bullshit with no real bearing on this discussion other than to massage your own ego. Suckin' on my titties like you wanted me.
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